May 20, 2026

 Our big news is that baby girl Astrid Hardy was born on Monday, May 18 Australia time while it was still Sunday here in North America. We are so excited and she is beautiful. I think she looks like her father Max. Big brother Aksel seems to be thrilled with her so far but that could change when he realizes that she is a permanent family member and will be taking up a lot of his mother’s time. Cindy finally got the May baby girl that she always dreamed of. Cindy and Paul will be leaving soon for a few weeks in Australia to participate in the new baby excitement. Sam and I will remain here.

I have been working these past few weeks spreading bags of bark mulch, setting up the back deck for summer, washing windows etc and I seem to have an angry shoulder. I love to work on my house and my yard and it is upsetting when my body rebels.

I took Jack and Sam for brunch while Jack was here and then they helped me buy a new printer as mine was acting up. My security system was bought out by Telus, so I took up their offer for a new mobile phone and had my doorbell camera system switched to them as well. It has required many hours on Telus calls and numerous Telus visits but I think things are settled at the moment. My Telus TV system required some more work too. David Bigler helped me get my permanent lights up and working again. Maintaining life is a constant and exhausting. I am still working on getting all my banking switched to Scotia and that is coming along. I am trying to get my life simplified and it is a complicated process. We are working as a Relief Society Presidency to get ministering and activities up and running. I love this presidency and Sharon Hara serving over activities. I think we have some good ideas that hopefully bless the sisters. Rissa and I are discussing the Montana Family reunion and trying to get things organized. It puts a lot on Rissa, as she is more or less hosting and making the arrangements. She gave me a Little White House gift certificate for my birthday and Cindy and I used it last Friday for High Tea. Bela put together a wedding for a couple investigating the church and she assigned me to buy Costco flat cake. We celebrated that last Friday too.

I often have thoughts and feelings that I want to record but when I come to the blog they are not manifesting themselves at the right time. However, one reoccurring feeling I have is a daily constant and that is the feeling of pain I have missing Tom. I am doing well, very well but I still hurt terribly. You miss having your best friend to talk things over with, to share your hurts pains and frustrations with. You miss their constant love, support and encouragement but I still do feel those things. I know I am blessed beyond measure and I have nothing to complain about but oh the pain of missing him is intense and ongoing. I am so grateful for my family. Where would I be without them? I am grateful for the Savior and His gospel and I am grateful that my foundation was grounded there before this part of my life began. I am truly blessed!

April 30, 2026

 Days rarely turn out as planned. I had my day planned in my head when I got up today. I always have a day plan and always have things to do but I received an early morning call from a tearful Jeanne Arnold this morning saying she that was struggling and had not left for Alberta yesterday as was planned. We have been helping Jeanne for the last couple of weeks to get her small coach house packed up and cleaned in preparation for her move to Cardston. She is about three years younger than me and she has allergy and other health concerns that tend to limit her. She has only lived in the ward for a short time and she seems to move quite often. I have been lining up people to go and assist her almost daily. We scrambled today again and Cindy, Jack, Sam, Melanie and the Sister Missionaries and Elders rallied to her aid and got her car packed and her apartment in final order. The boys all helped give her a blessing. I am praying that she manages and lands safely.

We had Jeff’s graduation from Wagner Hill’s last Friday and Cindy, Sam, Jenn, Russ, Nora and I all attended. We are so proud of him and are just hoping and praying for his future success. He is flying to Alberta today to pick up his truck and his dog Gertie. Jenn and family stayed with me.

I have been working on Relief Society Activities with Sharon Hara and we have the year planned with Four Main Activities and Interest Group Activities. One of our main activities will be a Temple activity with the Vancouver Temple Matrons and I have been busy inviting all of them and asking them to save the date in October. I have been working on other calling related responsibilities as well, both Temple and Relief Society.

Liza and family came, along with Liza’s coworker Kiana, on the weekend of April 11. Brendon and the children did Temple Baptisms and Liza and Kiana attended a PT workshop and stayed an extra couple of days completing that.

I have got my taxes in, completed and paid. I have been setting up a new doorbell camera security system with Telus and I am ready to purchase a new printer as no one can get mine working. I had the windows and house washed, spread bark mulch in the flower beds and ordered flowers for Stake Conference held last weekend. I also attended book club at Marilyn’s this week. Somewhere, along the line, I have pulled my right shoulder and I am hoping I can get that feeling better.

Jack is here this week and Breya is home too. Both are returning for summer school as Bryson is doing too. Trey will be attending BYU the fall and Sam hopes to attend BYUI next year sometime. Everyone is busy.

Blessed and busy too.

April 8, 2026

 I have really let the time lapse since my last post. I am discouraged because I cannot seem to figure out how to add pictures but I will try to have one of the children help me sort it when they have a minute with me.

The last month has involved going to Kelowna to attend Sayde’s play, receivng a new calling, getting taxes together and celebrating Easter along with numerous other events but these are the highlights.

The week after we got back from Alberta I flew to Kelowna so I could attend Sayde’s play “Beetlejuice”. I asked Mary and Lincoln to drive me to the Vancouver Airport early in the morning on March 13. It was dark and raining and I felt concerned for dear Mary who was doing the driving, with Lincoln in the back and me in the front trying to help Mary find her way. Mary told me later, as I drove her to book club one evening, that both she and Lincoln felt Tom near encouraging them to take good care of his wife and that they would be kept safe on their drive home. I am always happy when people say they have felt him near because I feel him all the time. I am grateful for their kindness and Tom’s ever present love. Sayde’s performance was wonderful and she played one of the leads. She was the father and did marvellously well singing and dancing in her wheelchair. I just stayed two nights and we were able to celebrate Liza and my birthdays by going out for dinner Saturday evening with the family.

The Bishop asked to speak to me on Sunday March 9th and called me to serve in a new Relief Society Presidency with Melanie Leonard as president. I am happy to serve with Melanie, who is remarkable, and with Karen Chen and Cinthia Miranda, who will serve as secretary. I feel more comfortable in this calling than any calling I have had in a while. We have met several times, provided a missionary lunch, organized a Palm Sunday Linger Longer and made some home visits to sister’s homes. Melanie has been down to Salt Lake twice in the last month and we are still moving full steam ahead.

I have wanted to make more of the Easter Season this year as our church Leaders are suggesting, so I got  more decorations, kept my permanent outdoor lights shining and followed along the happenings on each day of Holy Week. The Ward and Stake Palm Sunday events were lovely. We, the Relief Society Presidency, decorated for and organized the Palm Sunday Linger Longer. General Conference happened to fall on Easter weekend and that event, along with it being a Solemn Assembly conference as we sustained a new Prophet and President, made it very special. We had our Easter Dinner on Monday with Cindy’s family, Jeff and Jean here at my house.

It has been an eventful month. I also changed my phone plan to Telus and got a new phone which I am still getting used to. I have collected and got our taxes into Phil our accountant but I am still receiving some more in the mail and will have to get those special delivered to Phil. I gave Cindy Tom’s laptop for her schooling and I am looking to get a new, smaller one for myself. I am wanting to use up Avion points and thought they could go toward a new laptop.

Liza, Breya, Monica and I had our birthday’s in March. Kona had her 4th Birthday April 2 and Sarah had her’s two days later. My family, Joanne, Jean, Melanie were all good to me on my Birthday. I am blessed.

March 6, 2026

 Since my last blog I have, for the most part, been in Alberta visiting Joanne, Dave, Jack, Jamie and. Brooke. Cindy, Kona and I flew out from Abbotsford to Calgary on February 24th. Joanne and Brooke picked us up there and drove us down to Lethbridge. The roads were good and we appreciated their kindness as we were unable to take the shuttle down because the shuttle will not take the dog. Dear dog! We had a lovely week. Jack was over each day to spend time with us and Cindy went with him to the university and studied there while he was in class. They both did school work at Joanne’s too, as well as participating in activities with us. We went for lunch at the Jasmine Room with Joanne (Cindy and myself). We went out for dinner for Mexican food one night and Italian food another night and to Jamie and Brooke’s on yet another night. Joanne treated us like we were in a lovely Bed and Breakfast, providing wonderful breakfasts each morning as well as other delicious meals. Dave goes out with his friends twice a week for lunch which is very nice for him. The big event was Lara Lyn and Colton driving up to surprise us! We were going to a matinee with Brooke and when we walked into the theatre, out jumped Lara Lyn and Colton. That was special. They had worked with Jamie and Brooke to make it all happen.They stayed with Jamie and Brooke for two nights and did things with us during the days they were there. Joanne and I watched the Cranford series and Bela came over to visit one afternoon. We also ran into Sandy Anvik while out walking and had a nice visit with her. We experienced snow, cold, wind, sun and warmth. We had it all. Joanne and Brooke retraced their steps on Tuesday, March 3rd and took us back to Calgary to catch our flight home.. Sam had driven us to the airport and then picked us upon our return. Kona did well going, coming  and while there. Good to see everyone. We had a lovely time.

Since back I have been getting ready for Easter, meeting with the new Relief Society Presidency, and working on projects at home. Always things to be doing.

February 20, 2026

 Life is ever evolving. Things happen quickly and you never know from one moment to the next what will present itself. I had a bad fall while out walking the dog in the evening February 16, Monday. It was dark and there was a branch with a couple of appendages on it laying on the sidewalk just around the corner. I think I was trying to maneuver around it when I realized that my feet were tangled and I was going to fall. I got twisted around with my back to the road and tittering on the edge of the curb, I fell into the street backward  and cracked my head on the pavement. I lay there in shock and mouning. A woman, who was out looking for bottles in the recycle bins, saw me and came to help me up. She could not speak English but kept talking to me. She handed me my toque, pointed to the branch that had contributed to the fall and left. When she saw me looking for something, she returned with her flashlight and helped me look for my black pearl earring that had fallen out. On the black pavement, in the dark, she quickly found a black pearl. I had said a little prayer and that fund was a miracle. Through it all, I did not let go of Kona’s leash. I hurried the walk and called Cindy when I got home because I thought someone should know in case I went into shock. My children have been checking on me. I still feel shaken and sore but I feel that I was very blessed and things could have been so much worse. Tom always said, “One moment can change everything.”

We had Molly Carlton’s lovely funeral service on Friday, February 6. They had it at our chapel and had kept it a little smaller by not announcing it to everyone. They had beautiful music, talks and prayers. It was perfect.

I have had an at home blood pressure check under my doctor’s direction, Kirk has pruned my front yard ginkgo tree and topped up the air pressure in all four of my car tires. He is so kind.  Charmaine and Cheyenne are both home right now and I took them all out for dinner last night to Wabi Sabi. We have put on two LOW’s training meetings - one Wednesday evening, February 11 and the other Thursday morning, February 12. They were well attended and went well. I made carrot cake. I had to rush after the Thursday morning meeting to Moxie’s to celebrate  Bob Water’s retirement celebration as he concludes his service as a Temple recorder. He has been serving in that capacity almost since the Temple opened. It was a great group of  my friends. Brendon, Keaton and three other young men stayed with me on the weekend while the boys attended a dance and did Temple baptisms. Always busy but good.

The Bishop asked to meet with me Sunday morning. He released from my current calling and called me to serve in the Relief Society Presidency with Melanie Leonard as President, Karin Chen as the other counsellor and Cinthia Miranda as the secretary. We have already had one meeting. Here we go.

February 5, 2026

 I have been busy baking, cooking and hosting during these past few days. Melanie had book club this month and I offered to host it for her with Molly’s passing. She loved the book and really wanted to lead the discussion so I provided the home and the food and she presented. There were just six of us which was a perfect size rather than a large group asking Melanie difficult personal questions. So that took place on January 27th and on the 29th I had Mike Walker, his wife Becky and their 6 children arrive for dinner and to spend the night while enroute to Salt Spring Island. I had already invited the Sister Missionaries so decided to have them as planned and we just made a large group for taco salad,  cookies and ice cream. Becky and their daughter Pepper ran to the Temple to do baptisms. They have two daughters and four little boys. We had a nice visit. After their departure the next day I cleaned up and went out for dinner with Jennifer, Jeff and Jenn’s friend Kristen in the evening.We were celebrating Jeff and Kristen’s birthdays. Jennifer then stayed the next two nights with me while she attended Kristen’s daughter’s cheerleading competition, helped another friend pack up to move and spent some more time with Jeff. I was glad Cindy, Sam and I had taken Jeff a birthday cake, balloon and card on his birthday the week before as Wagner Hill’s had forgotten celebrate until someone finally realized the oversight. Jennifer left Sunday morning. This past Tuesday I hosted a baby shower for Tessy’s baby boy at my house. Jaqui, Melissa and Christina helped with invitations and food. We had about 14 ladies attend along with Tessy’s baby and her toddler. The toddler kept us all busy. In the process of all this I have made carrot cake, Mom’s cookies, Grandma Tanners’s bran muffins and cookie sheet cake plus fruit, drinks and cheeses. I took my last bran muffins over to the Leonard ‘s today in addition to fruit and bread Cindy had added. It is Molly’s funeral tomorrow and their family is gathering. Paul also attended a dinner with me at Moxie’s put on by Scotiawealth. It has been a busy couple of weeks and I have more coming next week and then Cindy and I fly to Alberta the end of  the month.

I took  Jean for brunch on January 23 to Saba’s using the Christmas coupon the Bull family had given me. Jean has a mid day break during her work days and that suited us perfectly.  The girls will be coming home soon. 

I usually attend the 11am session on Tuesdays at the Temple each week but Barb wanted to come and she didn’t feel she could make it before noon, so I met her then. She struggles with life generally and has a hard time getting to the Temple so it was good to have her make it there.

I am getting my banking in place and trying to use up the points from my old bank. We bought our plane tickets for Alberta with my points.

When people ask me how I am doing, I say, “Busy and that is good for me.” I am busy and that does keep me going with purpose. I appreciate my family, my friends and my neighbors who make my life worthwhile.

January 22, 26

 I have been working on transferring my banking from RBC to Scotiabank. When HSBC sold to RBC I was automatically changed to RBC but with Eric and Sheri, our financial planners now working with Scotia Wealth, I decided that it would be helpful for them and for me to be connected to the same banking institution. They have helped me make the change and my USD finally arrived into their accounts along with my other Canadian funds. I have a new SDB with them and I am feeling more settled. I have maintained a checking account with RBC to insure that everything is paid for that may come thru and I want to try to use my avion points with them. Always things needing to be done and taken care of. Without Tom I am on my own and having to take care of things we would have discussed together and he would have largely shouldered. I never feel alone though and I am certain he is supporting me with his prayers and love and at times input.

We had an atmospheric river system go thru and now we have had a lengthy cold spell with clear skies, which is a nice change, making for cool but sunny walks with the dog.

Our Tessy from Nigeria had a baby boy on New Years and I took dinner to their family. I went over to Bela’s townshouse to help her hang pictures. I took the flower arrangement, I had previously given her and recently redone for her, over with me. They have moved to Alberta but are maintaining their townhouse here. They will be back and forth. I have been baking and preparing for book club next week, the Mike Walker family one night stay, Jennifer’s visit just after the Walkers and then Tessy’s baby shower. We are planning an LOW training meeting for February, a Ministering Conference and then Cindy and I are going to fly to Lethbridge the end of February, beginning of March for a visit with Joanne and family and Jack. I am trying to keep everything straight and taking one step and one event at a time.

The children are all settling back into school and their activities. Cindy is working hard at her schooling and trying to keep up with her calling, her Temple service, her family and this week she agreed to substitute for two days. Needless to say I am not hearing from her as much but that is okay. I am praying for everyone.